SloughRefugeeSupport

Annual Report2017-2018

Settling with Dignity

Page 3 Chair’s Report 2017-2018

Page 4 Objectives and Activities

Page 5 Client Statistics

Page 6 Chief Executive’s Report

Page 7 Chief Executive’s Report cont’d

Page 8 Settling with Dignity Activities

Page 9 Settling with Dignity Activities cont’d

Page 10 Thanks to Funders and Supporters

CONTENTS

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILSCharity Name Slough Refugee SupportCharity Registration Number 1079776Principal Office 28 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 3SRBankersUnity Trust Bank plcNine Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HB

CAF Bank Ltd25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ

Independent Examiner - My Controller Ltd, Windsor

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In spite of difficulties in securing funding for our core work, such as advice giving, the variety of sources we tapped into provided Slough Refugee Support with stability during the year. New sources of funding, such as Bigger Better Opportunities and Slough Prevention Alliance Community Engagement, ensured we could continue to open four days a week and run both a Drop In and Appointments system to ensure our clients’ advice needs were met.

We were funded by Slough Borough Council to welcome two further Syrian families, in addition to the family we settled in December 2016. Consequently, we provided ‘wrap around provision’ for the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme, part of the UK’s response to finding homes for displaced persons from Syria. This work has been demanding as well as rewarding, with both staff and volunteers heavily involved in assisting these families.

The Board of Trustees oversaw the development of a three year Business Plan and continued to support the Chief Executive Officer in working towards the Slough Bronze Award. We realised the importance of preparing for the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations. The Board appreciates the work of the staff and volunteers who implemented the necessary changes to ensure SRS is fully compliant with the regulations.

CHAIR’SREPORT

2017-2018

With funding provided by Berkshire Community Foundation and shared with Reading Refugee Support, we were pleased to employ an Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner Level 3 worker for two days a week. In addition, our caseworker achieved her Level 2 status, which has ensured we can continue to offer high quality advice.

Looking forwards, we are keen to fulfil our Mission Statement and encourage our clients to settle with dignity in their new communities. SRS has a range of classes, activities and access to specialist advice to help in this respect and, in addition, we are grateful for the donations of food and equipment we receive from the public on behalf of our clients.

Our provision would not be possible without the dedication of our key workers, our many volunteers, interpreters and our trustees. The Board thanks you all for your important contribution as we look forward to continuing to serve our client group for many more years to come.

Chair of Trustees

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OBJECTIVESAND

ACTIVITIESMISSION STATEMENTSlough Refugee Support is a friendly organisation committed to impartially helping all asylum seekers and refugees in Slough to achieve their rights and settle with dignity in a new community.

CHARITABLE OBJECTIVESThe charity is established to provide for the relief of poverty, the preservation and protection of physical and mental health, and the advancement of education of asylum seekers and refugees in Slough and neighbouring Local Authority areas, at the discretion of the Trustees.

To this end, the organisation plans to:• Welcome asylum seekers and refugees in Slough• Improve the quality of life for asylum seekers and refugees in Slough• Increase independence and self reliance• Facilitate integration into the Slough community and UK life and to enhance community cohesion• Celebrate cultural richness and diversity in the community

The organisation’s objectives are to:• Facilitate access to all rights, entitlements and services provided by other agencies – education, health, benefits, citizenship• Improve English language skills• Improve employment prospects• Provide a wide range of other services in response to the needs and wants of refugees• Raise awareness of the needs of refugees and how other service providers could respond• Raise awareness of the skills and talents of refugees and how they can meet the needs of the community at large

In setting our aims and objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

Main Activities Undertaken for the Public Benefit• Provide advice sessions and follow-up casework• English classes, sewing classes and crèche• Job Club- ways into work activities• Awareness raising on issues affecting asylum seekers and refugees.

QUALITY CONTROLSRS is registered with the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) to deliver Level 2 immigration advice. Additional Level 3 advice is available by appointment.

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AFGHANISTAN 40ALBANIA 3ALGERIA 1ANDORRA 3 ANGOLA 2BANGLADESH 6BHUTAN 2CHINA 3CONGO 5 EGYPT 5ERITREA 4GAMBIA 5 GUINEA 3INDIA 8IRAN 8IRAQ 18KENYA 5KOSOVO 2KUWAIT 15LIBERIA 1MOROCCO 1NIGERIA 4NORTH KOREA 0 OMAN 2OTHER 6PAKISTAN 32PALESTINE 1POLAND 1RUSSIA 1SOMALIA 157SOUTH AFRICA 3SRI LANKA 31SUDAN 7SYRIA 44TANZANIA 4TIBET 12UGANDA 1UNITED KINGDOM 40YEMEN 3ZIMBABWE 22

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AGE GROUPS

500

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

00 to 5 6 to 16 17 to 20 21 to 60 Over 60

GENDER

Female 42%

Male 56%

Male 190Female 143Unspecified 4

SRS CLIENTS

New User Households

Total, inc. family members

Drop-in Total User Households

Total, inc. family members

Casework Total User Households

Total, inc. family members

2000 400 600 800 1000

CLIENT STATISTICS

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Slough Refugee Support faced many challenges

during 2017. There were cuts to legal aid which

drastically affected our clients, making them

more dependent on our services. On top of this,

with fundamental changes in the benefit system,

such as the introduction of Universal Credit, we

have seen a sharp increase in the need to solve

benefit-related issues.

With limited funding, we have still managed

to run our services efficiently, with many of

our clients being granted “Leave to Remain”.

Consequently, they are consolidating their

position in the community, which is a notable

success for SRS in this difficult climate.

The overall number of new Asylum Seekers

seeking our services has reduced slightly.

However, the Drop-In continues to be busy,

due to ongoing and complex issues relating to

housing, benefits and destitution.

SRS has instituted new services in partnership

with three other charities, as well as with Slough

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S

REPORTBorough Council. We have undertaken a

programme called Building Better Opportunities,

which is aimed at facilitating client access to

employment. The provision includes ESOL

training, enabling our clients to fill in job

applications, and developing valuable literacy

and communication skills. This is an essential

service to help refugees settle with dignity into

the community and so assist their employability

and independence. Thanks to the hard work of

BBO staff and volunteers, we have managed to

recruit six volunteers onto the BBO programme

and ESOL classes.

The sewing classes have, as usual, been

extremely popular, especially as we provide a

crèche in the afternoon. It has been great to see 6

clients develop their sewing and creative skills, as

well as making friends with other service users.

Aside from projects, SRS has worked hard to

increase awareness around the issues faced by

asylum seekers and refugees locally in Slough

and neighbouring areas. To do this, we have

participated in a variety of forums concerning

Police Liaison, the Job Centre, and Stakeholders.

Through building contacts with the local NHS, we

have run sessions raising awareness of diabetes,

latent TB, cancer support, dental care and female

genital mutilation.

In addition, our involvement in the Syrian

Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme,

in conjunction with Slough Borough Council,

has increased, with SRS providing support for

three families under the scheme. This work is

demanding and sensitive but also extremely

rewarding and we aim, in the coming year, to

encourage these families to become more

independent as they settle with dignity.

We are very grateful to all our funders (listed in

the report) who continue to help us provide this

much needed service to asylum seekers and

refugees in the Slough area. We appreciate all

our volunteers who have given their time and

energy to help deliver our services and provide

support to our clients, many of whom have

complex emotional and mental health issues. I

would like to thank the staff for their dedication

in ensuring SRS supports its clients, and lastly the

local community who have helped us reach out to

our needy client group.

Taz Mohammed

Chief Executive

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SETTLINGWITH DIGNITY

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIESDuring the year, Slough Refugee Support offered a range of opportunities designed to help asylum seekers and refugees settle with dignity in their new community. Details of several of these activities are given below.

ENGLISH CLASSESAbly led by Geraldine O’Donoghue and supported by two volunteers, Karin and Ty, our English for Speakers of Other Languages’ Classes were (and continue to be) a huge success. On average 10 students attend, including young unaccompanied asylum seekers, adult asylum seekers and refugees. Every student has her or his own story and set of circumstances, but they share a strong desire to improve their English, realising that this is the best way for them to find employment and settle and enjoy life in the UK.

Students are prepared for the same ESOL Skills for Life Course which is on offer at local colleges. Geraldine says, “My aim is to provide students with an English language learning experience that provides plenty of opportunity to rehearse and use language. I also include singing as a teaching strategy as it is a fun and engaging way to practise vocabulary and grammar.”

As a result, Geraldine’s classes are extremely popular and it is rewarding to see the students enjoying their lessons, developing their language ability and making social connections in the classroom.

SEWING CLASSES AND FASHION SHOWOur ever popular sewing classes, taught by Ajma Rai and Sahra Jibril, give students an opportunity to develop new skills, save money by making clothes for their families and socialise with other clients at SRS. Ajma, who features in our photo, was one of the models at our Fashion Show in June 2017. This turned out to be a very successful fundraising opportunity and SRS is grateful to the SGI Buddhist Centre in Taplow for kindly allowing us to use their beautiful venue.

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TALKSOur Family Support Worker, Keriann Belcher, gave a series of talks to interested clubs and schools. She can be seen (page 11) at the Khalid Scout Group in Slough, where students prepared banners and resources for SRS.

FOOTBALLSRS’s football teams play two or three times a week, under coach Zabihullah Liwal-Saam. Zabi was a professional football player in Afghanistan before the Taliban stopped him and others from playing. He now gives his time to coaching our teams and led them to successfully wining a trophy last season.

ALLOTMENTSRS is fortunate to have been given two allotments at Cherry Orchard in Slough. It was hard work to clear the allotments ready for planting and priority is given to developing horticultural skills with the emphasis on vegetable growing.

CLOTHES GIVE AWAYS AND LOCAL SUPPORTSRS is grateful to the local community for their many donations in kind. Social media has encouraged local supporters to give us a range of items, including clothing, food and equipment such as bikes, furniture and other household items. Our Clothing Giveaway Days are always very popular. In addition, local companies have provided toys for the creche and have helped tidy up our garden.

SRS WELCOMED TWO NEW PART TIME MEMBERS OF STAFF THIS YEAR.Zarmane Dogar joined as our Communications Officer and her job includes promoting SRS through Social Media, helping with Fundraising and supporting the staff, volunteers and trustees in all aspects of written communication. Her contribution to updating policies and procedures in line with GDPR has been greatly appreciated.

Mahmuna Hasnath, our Level 3 Adviser/Solicitor, offers appointments two days a week for complex asylum cases. Her services have been very much in demand and she saw 129 clients over a period of 32 weeks (averaging approximately four clients per her two day week). The appointment system has been full to capacity, often with a three week waiting time.

The Level 3 work, which has included lodging appeals, Zambrano applications, Indefinite and Further Leave to Remain applications, Long Residence Applications, travel documents, emergency visa applications, and family reunion advice has had 100% successful outcomes.

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Zarmane

Thanks to our Funders and Supporters

Anna Chaplin Dorrett WynterHelen Niven Jenny GriffinJohn KennedyKate PattinsonLuciane DalaneyMalcolm RiggMargaret HorwitzNargus IjazRhoda StrachanShabila Bashier

Ali MayeAndrew HartAndrew YoungAnissa Benaziza Anissa FialaBakr AhmadBeth Kremer-CollinsCharles PiketDiane LewisFahima AminFarzana UddinFirdowsa IkarGeraldine O’DonoghueGhazal ButtImtiyas MohamedKamila ImtiazKarinKarin van der PlasLinda ChananMary AbrahamMeenu SainiNimoPaola MerlassinoPhoebe BakkaliRifat Muneera Mian-HashimRosemary WatsonSaliha AbbasSantok YadavStephen TaylorTom Kelly Yassin Abdallah

GRANTSAB Charitable TrustBBC Children in NeedBuilding Better OpportunitiesBerkshire Community FoundationThe Hilden Charitable FundHealth WatchPrevent Thames Valley Police Slough Borough Council (Syrian Resettlement Programme)Slough Prevention Alliance Community Engagement

DONATIONS IN KINDChalvey Supermarket (Mr Iqbal Ali)St George’s Church, BritwellEden SchoolFood Bank SloughSlough Business Partnership BoardLocal Community Donations of Clothes and Equipment Tesco Food ShareBerkshire Arab CommunityZainab Foundation Arab Sisters The Parish of St. Mary the VirginDavid ImperialiRCCG Praise Embassy SloughSt. Andrew’s Methodist ChurchPolice and Crime Commissioner for Thames ValleyChalvey Community CentreSt. Edmund Campion ChurchSt Mark’s Crescent Methodist Church, MaidenheadMaidenhead SynagogueRidgely JohnsonBerkshire Community FoundationHampshire Avenue Methodist Church Ms Bernadette MacKenzie Ross

BOARD OF TRUSTEESIqbal AbdealiRay BarkleyGeeta BhugobaunMichelle Boundy (Treasurer) Mohamed HamedJean Kelly (Chair)Ifrah Mohamed Nigel WoofRupert Young

SRS STAFFTaz Mohammed – Chief Executive OfficerMahmuna Hasnath – Solicitor Rose Njoroge – Senior Case WorkerKeriann Belcher – Family Support WorkerZarmane Dogar – Communications OfficerAbobaker Mohamed – Finance OfficerRobin Roberts – Employment Support OfficerZabihullah Liwal-Saam – Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) Officer

Rebecca Quinn – HousekeeperSahra Jibril – Sewing Class TeacherAjma Rai - Sewing Class Teacher

VOLUNTEER ADVISERS

GENERAL VOLUNTEERS

Abubaker MohammadAl-JihaziDalia ArabFadi ArabFarah El- FerriHamid MohammedNadine JamousYusra Hassan

INTERPRETERS

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L E V E L 2

SloughRefugeeSupport 28 Bath Road l Slough SL1 3SR

T 01753 537 142F 01753 575 234

www.sloughrefugeesupport.org.uksrsinfo@ sloughrefugeesupport.org.uk

A B Charitable Trust